I have been shopping on Arthur Avenue for more than twenty years. I discovered it while teaching not far from there and find it just as wonderful today as I did then. Over the years I have frequented many of the shops and restaurants but, after trial and error, now shop and dine at a select few. My most favorite destination is Teitel Brother’s Imports. It is a third generation family business run by a Jewish family- not from Italy, but from Austria. (That explains the Star of David mosaic at the entrance.) It opened in 1915 and does not sell kosher goods but rather all kinds of Italian items from salami and balsamic vinegar to olive oil. (Their Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Marca Francesconi, is the best I have ever tasted.) I stock up on Mutti tomato products, Lavazza coffee, Callipo tuna, and De Cecco pastas, to name a few. Their prices are excellent, always less, and their imported meats and cheeses, fresh mozzarella, and fresh sweet and hot sausage are delicious and of the highest quality.

If you wish for an authentic brick oven pizza,*Trattoria Zero Otto Nove is the place to go. I never miss a stop at Addeo and Sons Bakery, a family run business for eight decades. It doesn’t offer much more than freshly baked bread, and that’s all they need. And lastly, just walk into the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, which was established by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in the 1930’s to get push-cart vendors off the streets. You won’t know where to look first!

Tony & Tina’s Pizza: Albanian Bureks on Arthur Avenue

On another visit to Arthur Avenue, my daughters and I tried Tony and Tina’s bureks. I am not a connoisseur of these flaky dough pastries, but these were wonderful. We especially enjoyed the spinach ones which were fragrant with onion. I suggest you eat them there, however, you can reheat them at home in a very hot oven.

Luna Cafe

03/17: While on Arthur avenue for shopping, I decided to try this cafe. I had been there before when it was an Italian Pastry Shop, and being hungry, and noticing they now served lunch, entered. I was pleasantly surprised that this is now an Albanian eatery that not only serves Abanian food and Albanian desserts, but Italian food as well.

Perusing the menu, I choose goulash. It arrived on a bed of mashed potatoes, along with a salad of pickled cabbage and onions, and was delicious! When I got home, I spent an hour on Google looking for Albanian goulash recipes. I’ll submit the recipe if I’m successful! Wish me luck!

*Trattoria Zero Otto Nove: Further along on this blog is a review of this wonderful restaurant. It’s the place to visit if you want delicious pizza and Italian food.